An Ipswich primary school is celebrating after being made a Centre of Excellence for inclusivity.

Whitehouse Community Primary School has been awarded an IQM (Inclusion Quality Mark) with Centre of Excellence status from IQM, which was established in 2004 to support and assess both state and independent schools to become inclusive. 

IQM define an inclusive school as one which "gives all pupils, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, achievements or background equal opportunities to succeed."

IQM's report said: "Whitehouse Community Primary School is an excellent example of inclusive practice.  It is a school with 622 pupils in Ipswich with a catchment area that has changed from predominantly white British families to a school where 40 per cent of children have English as an additional language (EAL), 37 per cent of children are eligible for free school meals and 21 per cent of children receive support for SEND. 

"Inclusion is evident in all aspects of the school’s work and there are good links with the community to offer support for families."

The report also noted that all teachers at the school were expected to be teachers of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and that as a result,  SEND children achieved well. 

Their report added: "The school provides a challenging, stimulating and creative curriculum delivered in a calm, supportive learning environment where all pupils are encouraged and enabled to achieve their best. 

"Relationships between staff and pupils are excellent and pupils feel cared for and supported.  

"All staff are dedicated and positive about the futures of their pupils."

Whitehouse office manager, Sara McCullum said: "As you can imagine we are extremely proud of our efforts and how every child is catered for at Whitehouse.  According to IQM's website, only 200 schools in the UK have been made a Centre of Excellence."